The first comedy screenplay that I wrote was Animal House and I always thought I could and should be a director but no one was about to give me that opportunity on Animal House.

Later Ramis became a performer on and head writer of the late-night sketch-comedy television series SCTV during its first three years (1976–1979). I wrote a spec piece and submitted it to the Chicago Daily News the Arts & Leisure section and they started giving me assignments [for] entertainment features. And not just with actors; it was good training for just living in the world.

Harold Allen Ramis (born November 21 1944) is an American actor director and writer specializing in comedy. His best-known film acting roles are as Egon Spengler in Ghostbusters (1984) and Russell Ziskey in Stripes (1981) both of which he co-wrote. As a writer/director his films include the comedies Caddyshack (1980) Groundhog Day (1993) and Analyze This (1999).